Electric furnace



1934- H. CARMICHAEL 1,982,418

ELECTRIC FURNACE Filed March 19, 1951 2 h ets-Sheet l a 6 I J a i6 16 41 *0 T 25 h k i 3A .J

1s i7 29 as R 36 36 as an Jmntoz Howard Carmichael,

Nov. 27, 1934.

H. CARMICHAEL ELECTRIC FURNACE Filed March 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Zlwwmtoz Howard Carmicbaelt,

Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs Application March 19,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to temperature controlling means for dwellings,buildings, and the like, more particularly to a heating means consistingof a furnace and a cooling means associated with said furnace.

A primary purpose of my invention is to provide an electric furnace inwhich the electric unit may be readily removed for repair or replacementwith a minimum amount of effort on the part of the user.

Another object of my invention is to provide a furnace of the typedescribed which will provide a circulation of warm air having just theproper degree of moisture content to render the same most efl'ective forpromoting the comfort of occupants of the dwelling in which the furnaceis used.

A further object of my invention is to provide a furnace of the typedescribed having associated therewith means for circulating a coolstream of air throughout the dwelling or building in which the device isset up for lowering the temperature of the dwelling or building duringwarm weather or periods of high temperature.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of thetype described the partsof which are easily set up and associated withone another or removed from said association at the will of an operator.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which has few parts, does not get out of order easily, and issimple to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds,and the device will be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this application, in which Figure 1 is a, sectional view of myinvention with parts thereof shown in elevation for clearness of theillustration,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I make use of the ordinary air circulatorymeans of the heating system of any dwelling, building, or otherstructure occupied by people, to which the air circulatory means of myapparatus is connected. The pipes for conducting air to the circulatorysystem of the building or other structure are Shown at 1931, Serial No.523,884

1, while the pipes for returning air from said system to my device forre-circulation is indicated by the numeral 2. The pipes, 1, are mountedon top of and connected to, for communication with certain portionsthereof, the body 3 of my furnace.

This body, 3, comprises a cylindrically formed member which may be madeof sheet iron or any other suitable material, and which is equipped witha pair of similarly formed and oppositely disposed doors, 4, forpurposes that will soon be made clear. Within this cylindrical member,3, and preferably axially disposed relative thereto is a secondcylindrical member, 5, the inner wall, 6, of which consists of polishedcopper or other suitable heat radiating material, backed up by a secondwall, '1, of asbestos or other suitable heat insulating material, heldin position by a third wall, 8, of sheet metal or other material havingsimilar properties. Gates, 8a, are also provided in these walls formeans that will presently appear. It is within the chamber formed bythese walls that I house my electrical heating unit.

This unit comprises a plurality of resistance coils, 9, in this caseseven, symmetrically placed with relation to one another andsecured infixed relative relationship by means of perforated end plates, 10 and11. The lowermost, 10, of these end plates simply fits snugly within thecylindrical wall, 6, while the uppermost, 11, of these end platesextends annularly beyond the cylinder, 5, to suspend the unit within thechamber from the wall, 12, on which the same is mounted. This end plate,11, is secured to the wall, 12, by means of bolts or other suitablefasteners, indicated at 13, in a manner easily understood. The coils areconnected in series, as shown, and the entire system or unit isconnected to the fuse box, 14, which is further connected to a suitablesource of electrical energy supply, such as the main line supplying thehouse with current. A suitable switch, 15, is interposed in the line tothrow the heating unit on and off as desired. This switch may beassociated with a rheostat means for controlling the heat supplied bysaid unit in a manner easily understood. If desired a thermostaticcontrol means may be substituted in place of a switch, which method ofcontrol is well known in the art. The switch, 15, or the thermostat, ifsuch is used, may be positioned at any point or place desired about thehouse or building.

For conducting the air from the circulatory return pipe, 2, into thechamber formed by the member 5, an inverted funnel, 16, in the form of atruncated cone is provided therebelow, the

mouth of which funnel communicates with said pipe, 2, by means ofinlets, 17, the entry of air into which is controlled by means of thegate valve, 18, as desired by an operator. This funnel, 16, is providedwith a door, 16a, for permitting access to the fan when desired.

For moistening the air in circulation a tank, 19, is provided,positioned preferably above the furnace body, 3, and having pipes, 20,for communication with the pipes, 1. This tank, 19, is adapted tocontain water at a predetermined level therein, the level of this waterbeing maintained at said predetermined level by means of a valve, 21,communicating with the tank and a float, 22, communicating with thewater therein for controlling said valve. This float and valve may be ofany suitable construction for perform ing this function. A manual cutofivalve, 23, in the liquid supply pipe to the tank allows the liquidsupply to be shut off when it is wished not to use the same. This tank,19, is provided with a-door, 23a, for permitting access thereto whennecessary.

For increasing the circulation of the air about the heating coils andthroughout the system, if itis desired to augment the naturalcirculation thereof due to the heat supplied by the coils, and forcooling the dwelling or building, as will be set forth later on in thisspecification, I provide a fan, 24, mounted in the oil bearing, 25, andconnected by means of coupling, 26, to a motor, 27, for operationthereof, this motor being controlled for operation by means of a switch,28, which may be associated with suitable rheostat means for increasingand decreasing the speed of rotation of the motor.

For use when the apparatus is used as a cooling system, the baseportion, 29, of the cylindrical body, 3, is provided with a pair ofdoors, 30 and 31, hinged to said base as indicated at 32 and 33, andopening downwardly when latches, 34 and 35, release the same.

The body portion, 3, of the furnace is supported in an elevated positionby means of legs, 36, which allow a free circulation of airtherebeneath. The motor, 27, is supported in a similar manner by legs,37, which allow the ready removal or positioning of said motor whenuncoupled or coupled to the fan spindle.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my device iseasily understood. When it is desired to use the furnace as a heatingsystem, the parts are set up as heretofore described and the switch, 15,operated to energize the resistance coils, comprising the electricalunit. The air being heated within the chamber formed by the cylindricalmember, 5, will rise through pipes, 1, drawing oil by means ofevaporation through pipes, 20, water vapor from the tank, 19, forcirculation in the circulatory pipes of the dwelling or buildingconnected to pipes, 1.

This rising of the air through the chamber formed by member, 5, willcause an entry of air through the inlets, 17, from pipe, 2, to which thereturn pipes of the circulatory system are connected. This air will passupwardly through the chamber to be heated and circulated in a mannereasily understood. The supply of water in tank, 19, during thisoperation will be taken care of by the float control valve, 21, thevalve, 23, being thrown to the open position when it is desired tomoisten the air.

If it is desired to augment the rate of circulation, the fan, 24, issimply set in motion by means of operation of the switch, 28, toincrease the speed of circulation.

If it is desired to use the apparatus as a cooling apparatus in summer,the operator simply leaves the switch, 15, in the oil? position, opensthe doors, 20 and 31, and starts up the fan, 24. As the air in thecellar wherein the furnace is usually positioned is cool, a circulationof said cool air will be sent through the house or building to cool thesame.

The doors, 4 and So, will permit ready access to the coils, the fusebox. and the funnel in which the fan is positioned for permittingassembly and disassembly of the parts, as well as repair and replacementof the same.

It is thus seen that I have provided a temperature controlling unit foruse in dwellings, buildings, and the like, which will circulate warm,moist air through said dwelling or building or cool air therethroughwhen desired.

It is further seen that I have provided a device of the type describedwhich may be easily repaired and assembled and disassembled.

' What I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for heating buildings and the like, comprising a heatingunit, flue means connected 115 to said heating unit for circulating theair throughout the rooms of said building, and means for increasing themoisture content of the heated air, consisting of a closed receptaclefor containing water positioned above said heating unit, and 120 fluemeans interconnecting said receptacle and said air circulating fluemeans, said receptacle havinga water inlet valve and float means forautomatically controlling the inflow of the water.

2. A device for heating buildings and the like, comprising a heatingchamber, a heating unit positioned in said heating chamber, flue meansfor conducting the heated air from said heating chamber to\the rooms ofthe building, flue means for returning the air from the rooms of saidbuilding to said heating chamber, a fan positioned in communication withsaid air return flue means, and a funnel for directing the stream of airfrom said fan into the heating chamber and thru said heating unit.

HOWARD CARMICHAEL.

